With seven minutes left to play, Patrick Bamford made his way into the technical area ready to be introduced from the bench.

For the striker, it was his sixth Boro appearance coming up against the side for which he made six appearances earlier this season.

If ever there was a time to get off the mark for the season...

And he could have done. Should have done. Maybe would have done, had Michael Keane not sent him sprawling when he took the ball down with a wonderfully delicate first touch to leave him with only Heaton to beat.

Bamford's touch was an outstanding one and he had the ball under control - which made it all the more baffling that referee Martin Atkinson picked out the yellow card instead of the red.

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

The video will start in 8Cancel

Play now

Keane's admission post-match - he told Premier League Productions that he "got away with it" - makes the decision all the more difficult to take.

Steve Agnew has spoken this week and last of the need for a bounce or that bit of luck. On this occasion, fortune favoured the visitors.

At the time when Boro desperately craved a hero, Atkinson stepped into the role of the villain.

It would be an extreme exaggeration at this stage to suggest it's a season-deciding decision, of course. But at this stage, Boro need every helping hand available - and Keane should have gone.

But that wasn't that. Boro weren't done there.

First Stewart Downing saw his free-kick deflected and whistle just past the post, Daniel Ayala had a header cleared off the line by Matt Lowton before Alvaro Negredo had a goal chalked off for what Agnew accepted was a handball.

The manager won't be so accepting of that Keane decision though. Nobody can say for certain whether Patrick Bamford would have added a finish to his sublime touch, but it was the opportunity Boro - and the player - so desperately required.

So a point it is. And a week which Boro identified as a chance to pick up at least six or seven points has seen them gain just two, leaving them facing a huge uphill battle to get out of trouble.

Alvaro Negredo of Middlesbrough shoots (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Hull and Swansea's defeats helped their cause today but Agnew will know that this was the case of another opportunity passing Boro by.

If they're to launch the great escape, they need victories.

Hence Agnew's decision to introduce three attackers in the second half in search of the goal his side so desperately required.

Bamford was the last roll of the dice. Given his ineffective stint in Lancashire earlier this season, the visiting fans won't have been too concerned.

But Keane will have been when he sent the striker sprawling.

Of course, it's not Atkinson's fault Boro are in the position they're in now.

What's frustrating is the fact Burnley are now eight points clear of the relegation zone and, judging by the two games we've seen against Boro this season, there's little to separate the sides.

But they've managed to get over the line in key games. That's what Boro needed to do here.

Read More

The talking point

Given the predicament Boro find themselves in and Agnew's search for balance, Sean Dyche said he didn't know what to expect of how Boro would start against his side.

Chances are he won't have prepared for a 3-5-2, with Agnew showing he's not afraid of making an unexpected decision in such a big game.

And in the first half, the game-plan was clear - get the ball to Downing on the left who targeted Gestede in the box. While Boro were on-top in the opening period, they didn't turn the promising play into saves for Heaton to make.

The second half opened up - predictably - as Boro chased the goal they needed and Agnew made the attacking changes that were available to him.

The boss is clearly still searching for the set-up which best suits his side, having now started with four different shapes in four games.

While Agnew's selection was surprising, he'll be pleased that his side managed to tighten up at the back after that unfamiliar leaky show in midweek.

At the other end, breaking down a very stubborn and organised side was always going to be the test, with Burnley - without an away win all season - clearly coming to make themselves hard to beat. That's been their agenda all season, and it's worked.

After a flat start to the second half, Boro looked more threatening when they made the changes and added that touch of unpredicability. But at the same time, the visitors had chances themselves as the hosts committed bodies and launched balls forward.

Goalless it finished, a predictable result on paper - and Boro's fifth stalemate of 2017.